This is the second time that Portugal has returned to square one when it comes to legalizing the adult use of cannabis. With the dismissal of the Prime Minister, António Costa, on November 7th, the government will be dissolved and the bills that had been submitted to the Assembly of the Republic will expire, similar to what happened in November 2021. Portugal has new legislative elections scheduled for March 10, 2024.
The legalization of personal use of cannabis had been proposed by two parties, Left Block, on June 6, 2022, and Liberal Initiative, on April 20, 2023. However, none had yet been scheduled for discussion or voting in the Plenary of the Assembly of the Republic. With the dissolution of the government, bills to legalize the adult use of cannabis no longer have any validity, which means they will have to be presented again.
